There have been three bits of bad news regarding regional airlines posted on this blog this week. On the 20th of October on this blog a post was published questioning the future of Barrier Air's service to Kaitaia. On the 21st of October Kiwi Regional talked about their disappointment of numbers on their Dunedin-Queenstown service. Also on the 21st of October there was a post on reduction of services by North Shore Air. In a way none were a surprise to me
Barrier Air's Kaitaia service has been operated up till now by Piper Chieftains. The service started immediately after Air New Zealand pulled out though initially it operated under the Great Barrier Airlines Banner. Three weekday flights were scheduled at first with an ultra early 5.55am departure from Auckland to Kaitaia. In more recent weeks the frequency has been dropped to two flights a week. My first comment would be GBA/Barrier Air got it wrong basing their aircraft in Auckland. No one wants to fly from Auckland at 5.55am. I mean who wants to arrive at Kaitaia at 7.00am for a 9 or 10.00am meeting. Barrier Air finally twigged on to that, overnighted their plane but dropped their frequency to two flights a weekday and changed the timetable with the second flight from Kaitaia leaving at 2.00pm... far to early for day return business traffic. My suggestion to Barrier Air is early morning KAT-AKL-KAT and the same LATE afternoon as Sounds Air did with Westport and Air Chathams did. It also took some months for Barrier Air to align their baggage allowance to Air NZ's for when people want to connect with Air NZ or Jetstar at Auckland.
Kiwi Regional were surprised with the lack of bookings on their Dunedin-Queenstown run. Really? One just needs to read the airlines on this blog that tried to run DUD-ALR-ZQN (see http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2011/03/air-services-through-alexandra-index-of.html). It has never worked. The big issue for day return traffic from Queenstown to Dunedin (in particular) is the airport is miles away from the city. It costs a fortune to get to the city for a days business. Unless Kiwi Regional offer cheap transport to and from the city this service will never be a winner in my opinion. Personally I think there are other routes Kiwi Regional should have looked at. Nonetheless all the best to Kiwi Regional. I hope to fly them soon. I tried to tie a trip on them to connect with Originair but sadly the the latter weren't operating that day.
Finally, North Shore Air. This I think is the most innovative on airlines featured in this blog post. Their is so much potential in their North Shore to Tauranga service... not sure about North Shore to Kerikeri in the middle of the day. My thoughts with them is they had too short a lead time in to the start of the services. I look forward to them building the traffic on their run. While they have reduced the schedule their new timetable is right and should suit business travellers.
I was sure Barrier Air had upped the Baggage allowance on their KAT flights to 23kg. Saw it on their Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI would be super intrigued to find out how Sounds Airs WSZ flights are going. Would be very interesting to see some figures!
But on a positive note, Air Chathams have added flights on the WHK schedule. And now a DC3 service which is super awesome. Looking forward to seeing the new website. They have done well building up relationships with local WHK businesses
Word on the street is Sounds Air WS service is operating at above 80% Capacity.. I could believe it too.
DeleteInteresting. That is really good news!
DeleteAffirmative. It is 23kg. They did this a wee while back
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/greatbarrierairlines/photos/a.406262082760390.108305.296483407071592/879448245441769/?type=3&theater
Delete7th of August
Thanks for pointing that out... I have amended what I wrote accordingly
DeleteAirNZ have refused interline baggage for both Barrier Air and Air Chathams right from the get go. They have no reason to support 3rd level operators when they are still competing to Kerikeri and Tauranga.
ReplyDeleteThe point about the 23 kg wasn't about interline... People who were flying with Air NZ or Jetstar to Auckland to connect with Barrier Air were getting stung for overweight on Barrier Air's 15kg limit. Barrier Air raised their limit in August so that problem solved
DeleteAhhh I see what you did their. Miss read.
DeleteThat's also been my problem.. Mm maybe I'll try origin.. Oh they're not flying that day
ReplyDeleteI know there are quite a few egos in the 3rd level industry, but you would think some could interline to open up a more seamless service. That would get more bums on seats.
ReplyDeleteAlso I can see DUD-ZQN-DUD dropped asap...KRA the first to admit failure. If they survive long enough for the second Saab, then perhaps NSN-ZQN-NSN, a tourist route unopened?
An aircraft with non-RNP AR capability has a limited operational capability to keep a schedule in ZQN. A SAAB has very limited performance capability to meet the single engine climb and cruise requirements in high temperature, high DA and high weights. The fuel requirements to operate ZQN NSN will severely limit the SAAB out of ZQN.
DeleteHaving been offloaded from Air Nelson SAAB out of Napier due to 31 deg days the an airport like ZQN is just not going to work.
Absolutely bang on their. Haha I too remember those days of being offloaded at NPE (NSN could be a shocker as well) from the Saabs.
DeleteIt's hard out there for 3rd Level Operators, but KRA should have known from the beginning that ZQN - DUD was just not going to work. Do some research, it has been tried!
MRO are still looking for a air service provider..... But I doubt KRA will be a good fit for the Wairarapa.